Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Winchester (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1907-1918; undated. Local government records collection, Winchester (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia, 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from the City of Winchester.

Processing Information

Loose naturalization records, 1907-1918; undated, were processed by M. Long. Personal naturalization records, 1910-1918, were indexed for the purpose of inclusion in the Library of Virginia's Naturalization Records digital collection by M. Long.

Encoded by M. Long: September 2024.

Historical Information

Context for Record Type: Beginning in 1795, a person could declare their intent to become a citizen at any time and in any place after they arrived in the United States. Prior to the Naturalization Act of 1906, the naturalization process primarily occurred in local and state courts. Declarations of intent were the record by which an applicant for U.S. citizenship declared their intent to become a citizen and renounced their allegiance to a foreign government. This document typically preceded proof of residence or a petition to become a citizen by two or more years.

Locality History: Winchester, in Frederick County, was first known as Opequon, then as Frederick's Town (or Fredericktown), and, finally, on establishment as a town in 1752, as Winchester. According to tradition, one of the town’s founders, James Wood, named the town in honor of his birthplace in England. Winchester was incorporated as a town in 1779 and as a city in 1874.

Scope and Content

Winchester (Va.) Naturalization Records, 1907-1918; undated, consists of loose naturalization records filed in the local court. Loose naturalization records may include affidavits, reports for naturalization, declarations of intent to become United States citizens, and notices of application for admission of citizenship. The reports are narrative accounts made by applicants summarizing their journey to the United States. The declarations of intent record the person's name, place of birth, age, country of previous citizenship, renunciation of allegiance and fidelity to the nation of which the person is currently a citizen, and the date the intention was sworn. Affidavits, signed by those who knew the applicant and could vouch for their loyalty to the United States, may also be filed with the reports and declarations.

Additional administrative naturalization records included in this collection consist of blank and sample naturalization forms, policies sent from the Federal Bureau of Naturalization, and correspondence between the clerk and the Federal Bureau.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

Series I: Loose Naturalization Records, 1907-1918; undated, separated between personal and administrative naturalization records and arranged chronologically.

Related Material

Additional Winchester Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."

Adjunct Descriptive Data